Smart guys, SOLAR

[xrocketengineer]

Remote power for small needs is where solar shines. You are on the right track. Just do DC for most of it, and run an inverter for the AC needs. Much simpler. Anything you run off the inverter won't be efficient, but in this scenario, you really don't really need to worry about efficiency. It's intermittent use, once in a while. It's a perfect place for a DC solar setup.

12v LEDs will provide al the light you need.

If you can find a 12v adapter for your laptop, that's good to go, otherwise charge from the inverter.

The walkie talkies might have a 12v supply available, depending on the price point and brand. Otherwise, again the inverter will do.

The very first thing to do is to determine how much power you need. Do yourself a favor - figure out yoru best generous estimate, then double it.


BTW, on inverters.... A decent one will run at its rated power. Just not for long. Figure your load, and go 2-3 times bigger if you want a long life out of it.

Additionally, if you decide to go along with something like this, make sure that the charge controller is MPPT. This type of charge controller can do several things to improve efficiency and charge the batteries even with marginal sunlight. First of all if the voltage of the solar panel exceeds the voltage of the battery, the controller can lower the voltage and increase the current to charge the battery more efficiently. On the other hand if the voltage of the solar panel is too low to charge the battery but there is plenty of current, the current can be reduced and the voltage increased to continue charging the battery. After the battery is charged, the charger stops charging automatically and can also automatically top off the battery if necessary. Additionally, most solar panels require a diode to prevent a reverse current at night that would discharge the battery. The MPPT controller has that feature too, avoiding the need of extra diodes.
The PWM controllers are cheaper but they leave a lot on the table. If the voltage of the solar panel exceeds the voltage of the battery, the excess is just cut off. If the voltage of the solar panel is lower than the battery, the charging stops.

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